Scratch lottery coin holder

ABSTRACT

The scratch lottery coin holder is adapted for use when playing a scratch-off lottery game. The coin holder includes a housing fabricated from a pliable material having a recess for removably receiving a coin therein. An edge of the coin protrudes from the recess so that the edge may be utilized to scratch the surface of a scratch-off lottery ticket. The coin holder will have an outer surface inscribed or embossed with desired advertisement indicia or the like. The coin holder may also be combined with a key chain for convenience and practicality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to gaming devices and accessories, and to coin holding accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a scratch lottery coin holder that holds a lucky coin, either real or imitation, which is employed to scratch a lottery ticket of the scratch-off type to expose a prize or winning number.

2. Description of the Related Art

The gaming industry has become a multibillion-dollar empire. Aside from the proliferation of casinos, officially sponsored lottery games bring in millions of dollars to augment state treasuries. Because of the possibility of instantly determining a winner, the scratch-off ticket game has become one of the most popular and high revenue-producing games in the lottery industry. To determine whether a ticket is a winner or not, the player utilizes the edge of a rigid object to scratch and remove the top surface of a ticket to reveal indicia disposed on the ticket underneath the top surface. The rigid object is usually a coin, which coin is conveniently grasped between the forefinger and thumb to scratch the ticket.

Often the player employs a “lucky” coin exclusively to be used for scratch-off tickets. It would certainly be convenient if a device were available that would enhance manipulation of the coin during the scratching process and that would allow the retention of a special coin so that the player would not have to search for a coin when it is desired to play a scratch-off game. Thus, a scratch-off lottery coin holder solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scratch lottery coin holder is adapted for use when playing a scratch-off lottery game. The coin holder includes a housing fabricated from a pliable material having a recess for removably receiving a coin therein. An edge of the coin protrudes from the recess so that the edge may be utilized to scratch the surface of a scratch-off lottery ticket. As contemplated, the coin holder will have an outer surface inscribed or embossed with desired advertisement indicia or the like. For example, lottery agencies could have game logos disposed on the outer surface of the holder and sell or give away the holder as a tie-in to promote a particular scratch-off game. The coin holder may also be combined with a key chain for convenience and practicality.

Accordingly, the scratch lottery coin holder provides a coin holder especially for use in a scratch-off lottery game. The holder is effective to enhance coin manipulation during the scratch-off process. Advertisement indicia or logos may be disposed on the outer surfaces of the coin holder.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a scratch lottery coin holder for scratch-off lottery tickets according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a scratch lottery coin holder for scratch-off lottery tickets according to the present invention, showing a coin exploded from the coin holder.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a scratch lottery coin holder for scratch-off lottery tickets according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a scratch lottery coin holder for scratch-off lottery tickets according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 wherein the scratch lottery coin holder is generally indicated at 10. As discussed above, coin holder 10 is a device employed by a user U to scratch the surface of a lottery ticket T to determine if the ticket is inscribed with winning indicia.

As best seen in FIGS. 2-4, coin holder 10 comprises a housing 12, which is preferably fabricated from soft rubber material. It should be recognized that other suitable material (plastic, composites, etc.) may be used if the material provides the manipulative comfort and coin retention capabilities required. Housing 12 has a recess 14 formed therein. Recess 14 has dimensions to retain one of a popular-sized coin 16 therein (i.e., a dime, penny, nickel or quarter). A slot 18 is formed at the front end of housing 12 so that coin 16 can be easily removed or inserted, as desired. Promotional indicia or logos can be disposed on the outer surfaces of housing 12. A key chain 20 is attached adjacent the rear end of housing 12.

Utilization of the coin holder 10 is easy. The coin 16 is inserted in the slot 18 to be retained in the recess 14. The user simply grasps the housing 12 (normally between thumb and forefinger) and employs the edge of the coin 16 to scratch the surface of a scratch-off ticket. The coin 16 may be an actual article of currency, e.g., a coin that the lottery player considers to be lucky for whatever reason, or may be an imitation coin furnished for dedicated use with the coin holder 10.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A scratch lottery coin holder, comprising: a housing having a front end, a rear end and an outer surface, the housing defining a recess and a slot defined in the front end forming an entrance to the recess; and a coin removably insertable through the slot, the coin being partially retained in the recess and having an edge partially extending from the housing; whereby a user may hold the housing while scratching a lottery ticket with the edge of the coin extending from the housing to expose a scratch-off portion of the ticket.
 2. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 1, further including a key chain attached to the rear end of said housing.
 3. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 1, further including indicia disposed on the outer surface of said housing.
 4. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is fabricated from a pliable material.
 5. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is fabricated from soft rubber.
 6. A scratch lottery coin holder, comprising: a housing fabricated from a pliable material and having a front end, a rear end and an outer surface, the housing defining a recess and a slot in the front end forming an entrance to the recess; a key chain attached to the housing; and a coin removably insertable through the slot, the coin being partially retained in the recess and having an edge partially extending from the housing; whereby a user may hold the housing while scratching a lottery ticket with the edge of the coin extending from the housing to expose a scratch-off portion of the ticket.
 7. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 6, wherein said key chain is attached to the rear end of said housing.
 8. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 6, wherein said pliable material is soft rubber.
 9. The scratch lottery coin holder as recited in claim 6, further including indicia disposed on the outer surface of said housing.
 10. A scratch lottery coin holder, comprising: a housing fabricated from soft rubber and having a front end, a rear end and an outer surface, the housing defining a recess and a slot in the front end forming an entrance to the recess; a key chain attached to the rear end of the housing; indicia disposed on the outer surface of the housing; and a coin removably insertable through the slot, the coin being partially retained in the recess and having an edge partially extending from the housing; whereby a user may hold the housing while scratching a lottery ticket with the edge of the coin extending from the housing to expose a scratch-off portion of the ticket.
 11. The scratch lottery coin holder according to claim 10, wherein said coin is genuine currency.
 12. The scratch lottery coin holder according to claim 10, wherein said coin is imitation currency. 